Analysis and spreadsheet tools

There are a lot of tools available to analyse data. Which tool you use may depend on a range of factors:

basic or advanced functions — if you are working with a complex document you may require a tool with a range of formulas
availability of training — the availability of in-person training and online help varies between writing tools
industry standards — within certain industries there may be an expectation that you use a particular tool.

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Spreadsheet tools

Tool	Useful features and limitations	UQ Library training	Online training guides and courses	Tool cost
Microsoft Excel	Microsoft Excel is the standard spreadsheet tool used in most workplaces and is recommended if you need the full range of specialized functions. You can share and collaborate using OneDrive. You can download Microsoft Excel on your computer, or use online or via a mobile app. Note: OneDrive, Microsoft’s cloud storage solution, allows you to backup your documents and work collaboratively with others. OneDrive is not included as part of UQ’s Office 365 package. We recommend you get a free personal Microsoft Account to get OneDrive	Yes	Excel Essential Training (Office 365) (LinkedIn Learning, 2h4m)	Free for UQ staff & students
Google Sheets	Google Sheets is a free, web-based tool for creating spreadsheets and requires a Google Account to use. To access Sheets offline you need to use the Google Chrome browser and install Google Docs offline Chrome extension. You can also access Sheets via a mobile app. Google Sheet makes sharing and collaboration easy, and you can export spreadsheets to Excel (.xlsx) or plain text (.csv) file formats.	No	Google Sheets Essential Training (LinkedIn Learning, 2h57m)
Calc (LibreOffice)	Calc is a free spreadsheet tool you can download to your computer. Calc does allow you to share spreadsheets so multiple users can add data, however, real-time collaboration is not supported. File formats are compatible with Excel.	No	Learn LibreOffice Calc 6 in Under 30 Minutes (YouTube, 22m3s)

Tool

Useful features and limitations

UQ Library training

Online training guides and courses

Tool cost

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel is the standard spreadsheet tool used in most workplaces and is recommended if you need the full range of specialized functions. You can share and collaborate using OneDrive. You can download Microsoft Excel on your computer, or use online or via a mobile app.

Note: OneDrive, Microsoft’s cloud storage solution, allows you to backup your documents and work collaboratively with others. OneDrive is not included as part of UQ’s Office 365 package. We recommend you get a free personal Microsoft Account to get OneDrive

Yes

Excel Essential Training (Office 365) (LinkedIn Learning, 2h4m)

Free for UQ staff & students

Google Sheets

Google Sheets is a free, web-based tool for creating spreadsheets and requires a Google Account to use. To access Sheets offline you need to use the Google Chrome browser and install Google Docs offline Chrome extension. You can also access Sheets via a mobile app.

Google Sheet makes sharing and collaboration easy, and you can export spreadsheets to Excel (.xlsx) or plain text (.csv) file formats.

Google Sheets Essential Training (LinkedIn Learning, 2h57m)

Calc (LibreOffice)

Calc is a free spreadsheet tool you can download to your computer. Calc does allow you to share spreadsheets so multiple users can add data, however, real-time collaboration is not supported. File formats are compatible with Excel.

Learn LibreOffice Calc 6 in Under 30 Minutes (YouTube, 22m3s)

Data analysis tools

Tool	Useful features or limitations	UQ Library training	Online training guides and courses	Tool cost
Matlab	Matlab is downloadable software you can use for data analysis, modelling and visualisation. UQ students can download MATLAB to their personal computers.	No	Learning MATLAB (LinkedIn Learning, 1h13m) MATLAB 2018 Essential Training (LinkedIn Learning, 3h15m)	Free for UQ students
Python	Python is a programming language that can be used for data analysis and visualisation.	Yes	LinkedIn Learning pathway - Python
R and RStudio	R is a language and environment for statistical computing and graphics. RStudio is an integrated development environment (IDE) to make R easier to use.	Yes	LinkedIn Learning pathway - R Resources used in our different R courses
SAS	SAS's Education Analytical Suite is a data analytics tool available to be downloaded by UQ students.	No	Getting Started with SAS Studio
SPSS	SPSS Statistics is a software package used for statistical analysis and is available for UQ students to via Zenworks on Library Computers and in HASS/HABS Student Computer Labs.	No	Introduction to SPSS for data analysis (YouTube, 16m17s) SPSS for Academic Research (LinkedIn Learning, 2h42m) SPSS Statistics Essential Training (LinkedIn Learning, 4h57m)	Free use on selected UQ computers.
KNIME Analytics Platform	Use KNIME Analytics Platform to create data workflows, perform different analysis steps and display the results as models or interactive views for interpretation. KNIME analytics platform is available as a free open source desktop application under the GNU General Public License	No	Resources from KNIME to get you started Data mining course (LinkedIn Learning, 4h40m) - sections on Classification in KNIME and Association analysis in KNIME.

GIS tools

This table lists a few key GIS tools and training resources. See our Geographical information systems (GIS) guide for a more comprehensive overview of GIS resources for researchers.

Tool	Useful features and limitations	UQ Library training	Online training guides and courses	Tool cost
Carto	Carto is a cloud-based GIS platform built on open source software. Students can use Carto for free via the GitHub Student Developer Pack.	No	Carto tutorials
ESRI ArcGIS	ESRI ArcGIS is a downloadable tool for building and analysing geographical information. Students may use ArcGIS within specific courses. View the UQ Map Gallery from ArcGIS.	No	Learning ArcGIS (LinkedIn Learning, 3h13m)	Free for UQ students
Google Earth	Google Earth is a free mapping tool available online, via your desktop, or on your mobile device.	No	Become a Google mapping expert
QGIS	QGIS is a free, open-source desktop application for creating, editing and analysing geospatial information.	Yes	Learning QGIS (LinkedIn Learning, 2h5m) QGIS Training manual

Text analysis tools

This table lists a few key text analysis software tools and training resources. Our Text mining and text analysis guide provides a more comprehensive overview for researchers. It includes information on:

Sources of text data
Preparing text for analysis
A tool comparison table

Tool	Useful features and limitations	UQ Library training	Online training guides and courses	Tool cost
Leximancer	Leximancer is used for scientific qualitative data analysis including concept visualisation and mapping. Students can download a standalone licence for their computer. UQ students and staff can access a licensed version of Leximancer desktop software.	No	Introduction to Leximancer (YouTube, 1m36s) Advanced Leximancer Features (YouTube, 2m56s) Online tutorials, videos and product manuals from Leximancer	Free for UQ students
NVivo	Nvivo is software used to organise and analyse text and data. The software is available on Library computers. Otherwise, you can purchase a reduced price student licence.	Yes	Learning NVivo (LinkedIn Learning, 1h10m) NVivo 2018 Essential Training (LinkedIn Learning, 1h23m) Using NVivo in systematic reviews guide Getting started training manual - check under NVivo Pro	Free on UQ computers. A personal licence can be purchased.
OpenRefine	OpenRefine can be used as a powerful text search tool and to clean and transform data. It is useful for text and data analysis.	Yes	OpenRefine has short introductory videos and user documentation to get you started

Tool

Useful features and limitations

UQ Library training

Online training guides and courses

Tool cost

Leximancer

Leximancer is used for scientific qualitative data analysis including concept visualisation and mapping. Students can download a standalone licence for their computer. UQ students and staff can access a licensed version of Leximancer desktop software.

Introduction to Leximancer (YouTube, 1m36s)

Advanced Leximancer Features (YouTube, 2m56s)

Online tutorials, videos and product manuals from Leximancer

Free for UQ students

NVivo

Nvivo is software used to organise and analyse text and data. The software is available on Library computers. Otherwise, you can purchase a reduced price student licence.

Yes

Learning NVivo (LinkedIn Learning, 1h10m)

NVivo 2018 Essential Training (LinkedIn Learning, 1h23m)

Using NVivo in systematic reviews guide

Getting started training manual - check under NVivo Pro

Free on UQ computers. A personal licence can be purchased.

OpenRefine

OpenRefine can be used as a powerful text search tool and to clean and transform data. It is useful for text and data analysis.

Yes

OpenRefine has short introductory videos and user documentation to get you started

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Free tools are completely free to use with all features.

Freeware tools include basic functionality for free. Additional features may need to be paid for.

Open source tools are developed in a collaborative manner and can be used, modified or shared openly. This software can be used for free and often includes a lot of support documentation.

Paid tools can only be used after purchasing, and agreeing to, a product licence.